County historian falls to budget cuts

Don Rittner says he is victim of politics; county denies his claim

Don Rittner, City Historian for Schenectady, looks for a book in Efner History Center in the attic of the Schenectady City Hall in Schenectady, NY on November 17, 2010. Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Don Rittner, City Historian for Schenectady, looks for a book in Efner History Center in the attic of the Schenectady City Hall in Schenectady, NY on November 17, 2010. Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Photo: Lori Van Buren

Photo: Lori Van Buren

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Don Rittner, City Historian for Schenectady, looks for a book in Efner History Center in the attic of the Schenectady City Hall in Schenectady, NY on November 17, 2010. Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Don Rittner, City Historian for Schenectady, looks for a book in Efner History Center in the attic of the Schenectady City Hall in Schenectady, NY on November 17, 2010. Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Photo: Lori Van Buren

County historian falls to budget cuts

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SCHENECTADY — County historian Don Rittner, an outspoken, fedora-wearing and occasionally caustic commentator, has lost his $25,000-a-year post in a round of cuts during an austerity budget passed this week by county legislators.

Rittner believes political machinations were at work, a charge the county spokesman denied.

The Rittner layoff will end up saving just $10,000 on a $295.5 million spending plan. The 2013 budget contains a spending line of $15,000 for "professional services" of a historical nature.

"They didn't even tell me. I had to find out from a reporter," Rittner said Thursday. "This was done for political reasons."

Rittner, 61, of Schenectady had been the Schenectady County historian since 2005. He had also been the city historian, but that salary was taken away last year during budget cuts. He is a widely published author of books on computers and history, a Times Union blogger and volunteer director of the Schenectady Film Commission.

County Manager Kathleen Rooney recommended Rittner's position be cut and there were no objections raised during several nights of public budget review sessions earlier this month, county spokesman Joe McQueen said.

The budget passed Tuesday night with $6 million in additional cuts made during the review phase. Property taxes will still go up 5.9 percent next year. A property owner will pay about $57 more in taxes on a house with a $150,000 market value.

"This was one of many, many cuts and was nothing personal," McQueen said. "It was strictly a process of finding ways to be more efficient. The county manager believes the same level of historical service can be provided at a much cheaper price."

McQueen said no decision has been made on who will provide the $15,000 worth of historical services next year. It could be outsourced on a piecemeal basis or an individual could be hired.

Rittner said the $10,000 in savings achieved by cutting him was a tiny fraction to the economic development he brought to the county through his efforts to bring to the area in recent years construction of a replica of the historic sailing vessel the Onrust, the feature film "The Place Beyond the Pines" and the interactive road race "Fireball Run."

McQueen did not dispute those Rittner accomplishments. "But they had nothing to do with his position as county historian," McQueen said.

Rittner had no staff and no office. He had been working out of his car and basement at home.

Rittner, a former city of Albany archaeologist under Mayor Erastus Corning 2nd, has worn many hats professionally. He said he intends to take his contacts in the film industry elsewhere.